Peloton is expanding its strength training offerings with the launch of Kettlebell training classes, a highly requested addition to its platform. Available on both the Peloton App and the Strength+ App, the new content caters to members looking to switch up their workouts with the dynamic, full-body strength modality, long appreciated for its versatility.
Andy Speer, a longtime Peloton strength instructor, spoke to Athletech News about how the kettlebell program came to life. “It’s definitely been the most highly requested next addition to the strength platform from members over the years,” he explained. “We’ve been talking about it for a while, and now we’re finally rolling it out.”
credit: Peloton
Speer, who has trained with kettlebells since 2009 and completed RKC and StrongFirst certifications, believes in the value they bring to any strength routine. “I just think they’re so valuable and fun and a really cool addition to all the dumbbell work that we do, or anybody’s training in general,” he said.
The key difference between kettlebells and dumbbells lies in their shape and handling, particularly during ballistic movements.
“The main thing is that the ballistic movements feel much different with a kettlebell than a dumbbell,” Speer said. “It’s just a little bit easier to manage, smoother when you’re holding a kettlebell handle, or when you’re doing cleans or snatches. It feels a little smoother, more rhythmic—like you’re kind of supposed to be doing it.”
He also noted the real-world benefits of kettlebell training.
“There aren’t many things in life that we pick up that are equally balanced on either side of a handle,” Speer said. “You think about shopping bags, suitcases—there’s a handle and then a weight. So in terms of real-life application, kettlebells make a lot of sense.”
To create the new kettlebell content, Peloton’s strength team focused on alignment across instructors.
“We started by getting all of our instructors aligned on how we were going to teach the kettlebell movements,” Speer explained. “Our terminologies and our techniques are relatively similar, so members can feel comfortable taking classes across instructors.”
Instead of organizing kettlebell classes by muscle group like traditional strength classes, the team structured them based on training effects.
“Kettlebell workouts are really more full-body,” Speer noted. “Even if you’re doing presses and bent-over rows, you still have to clean the kettlebell up. So, we didn’t want to break it down the same way we did with strength classes. Instead, we categorized them into strength, conditioning,and strength & conditioning, so members know what to expect from each class.”
The kettlebell program includes Kettlebell Strength, with 80% strength moves and 20% ballistic and Kettlebell Conditioning, with 60% ballistic and 40% of a mix of bodyweight moves and high-rep, low-weight strength moves. It also includes Kettlebell Strength & Conditioning and Kettlebell Basics, which is a fundamental breakdown of the snatch, clean, swing, get-up, press,and squat.
The classes are taught by Peloton instructors like Speer, Jess Sims, Katie Wang, Logan Aldridge, Rebecca Kennedy, Jermaine Johnson, Joslyn Thompson Rule and Assal Arrian.
In addition to the classes available on the Peloton App, the Strength+ App offers a two-week kettlebell program led by guest instructor Dre Mayes, a former D1 football player and NASM-certified personal trainer. Peloton also plans to roll out new kettlebell classes on a weekly basis. “Right now, we’re trying to drop one a week,” Speer said. “We’ll see how the content evolves from there, but we’re always working on something new.”
Kettlebells seem to be making a resurgence in popularity, Speer noted it may be due to their practicality.
“Back in the mid-2000s, kettlebells had a big boom when Pavel Tsatsouline brought them over from Russia,” He said. “It was part of the whole functional training wave. Everything is so cyclical in fitness. But what I really love about kettlebells is that you don’t need a lot to get a great workout. You can have maybe two or three kettlebells at home and get an incredible variety of training in.”
The Peloton App is available starting at $12.99 per month, while Strength+ is offered for iOS users at $9.99 per month, both included at no additional cost for All Access, Guide and App+ Members.
Looking ahead, Speer is excited about the expansion of Peloton’s strength programming. “Between the Strength+ App and all the new kettlebell content, we’re really pushing to add variety and more options for our members,” he said. “We’re just getting started.”
